Dink Trial to be Merged with "Ergenekon"?

The murder trial related to the assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink might be merged with the "Ergenekon" case. Ergenekon is a clandestine terrorist organization charged with various crimes staged for the ultimate purpose of triggering a military coup.

Public Prosecutor Hikmet Usta requested the police investigate the connections of the defendants of the Dink murder case to the entire number of defendants of the "Ergenekon" and "Poyrazköy" trials. Prosecutor Usta was appointed by the Istanbul 14^th High Criminal Court to prepare the final speech on the 19 defendants of the murder case regarding journalist Dink.

According to the Turkish news site Ntvmsnbc.com, Prosecutor Usta demanded to investigate the connections between defendants Erhan Tuncel, Yasin Hayal and also Ogün Samast and the defendants of the Ergenekon and Poyrazköy cases. Dink murder trial suspects Tuncel and Hayal stand accused of instigation to commit murder. The file of triggerman suspect Samast was separated from the main file tried before the Istanbul 14^th High Criminal Court and is now being handled by the Sultanahmet (Istanbul) Juveniles High Criminal Court.

The prosecutor therefore demanded to carefully investigate the existing transcripts of the telephone conversations related to these persons. He also indicated that the Dink murder fuelled indignation in Turkey and abroad. The Dink murder trial will be continued on 30 May. (EÖ/VK)